Improvement in hot-air engines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented April 1,1879.

H. W. SHERRILL.

Hot-Air Engine.

ILPI'BS. FHDfO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

No..21x3,.783.

2 Sheets-Sheen 2.

H. W. SHERRILL.

Hot-Air Engine. No4. 213,783. Patented April 1,1879.

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N PETER$. PHOTG-LITHEJGRAFIIERy WASHINGYON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

HENRY W. SHERRILL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO SHERRILLROPER AIR ENGINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK CITY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOT-AIR ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 213,783, dated April 1,1879; application filed February 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY W. SHERRILL, of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hot-Air Engines, of which the followin g is aspecification:

The object of my improvements is to simplify,I cheapen, and increase theeffectiveness of hot-air engines, so as to render them more compact, andadapt them for the use of persons of small means requiring motive power,and having a limited space.

One improvement consists in a hot-air engine comprising the combinationof an enginepiston and pump-piston and passages, establishingcommunication between the enginecylinder and the pump-cylinder and thefurnace, and, preferably, under control of a single valve, whereby thepressure is admitted to the pump-cylinder to drive the pump-piston, thusutilizing it as a driving-cylinder as well as a pump-cylinder.

Another improvement consists in a hot-air engine comprising thecombination of an engine cylinder and piston, a pump cylinder and pistonseparate therefrom, and a pipe or passage for conveying heated air fromthe furnace to the rear or under side of the pumppiston, whereby theengine-cylinder is relieved and assisted in its work.

Another improvement consists in a hot-air engine comprising thecombination of an engine-cylinder and a pump-cylinder at least equal indiameter to said engine-cylinder, a pipe or passage for conveying heatedair from the furnace to the engine-piston, and a pipe or passage forconveying heated air to the pump-piston, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central vertical section ofa hot-air engine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan or top viewof the base-piece thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of saidbase-piece, including a partial section and a side view of the valve-boxand its appurtenances. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the furnace andfeeder or charging-vessel; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of saidfeeder or charging-vessel, taken on the plane of the dotted line a' x,Fig. 1, and including a plan or top view of the furnace.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thegures.

A designates a closed furnace, erected on the base-piece B, and made ofcast-iron or other suitable material, preferably lined with firebrick awhere exposed directly to the fire. C designates a grate comprising aseries of bars supported so as to be capable of being rocked oroscillated, for the purpose of shaking the fire supported thereon bymeans of a tappet or projection, C or other suitable device capable ofbeing actuated from outside the furnace. D D1 designate a feeder orcharging-vessel mounted on said furnace and comprising two separatecompartments, D and DI, the lower of which communicates with the furnacethrough an opening, b. Preferably, both compartments of this feeder arecontracted down wardly, or, in other words, are funnel-shaped, tofacilitate the passage of fuel through them.

The compartment D of the feeder is provided with a cover, D2, of conicalform, affixed to a shaft, D3, and capable of being lowered or raised bymeans of a lever, D, to open or close the bottom of the saidcompartment. The compartment D1 is provided at the bottom with a conicalcover, D5, attached to a tubular shaft, D7, surrounding the shaft D3,and connected to a lever, D4, whereby the cover may be lowered or raisedto open or close the bottomn of the said compartment DI.

D8 designates a cover, which may be opened to admit fuel into thecompartment DI; and D9 designates a draft-pipe leading from thecompartment D1 into the exhaust-pipe of the engine.

The covers D2 D5 may be operated independently of each other ortogether; but it is intended that the covers D5 and D8 shall first beopened and fuel introduced into the compartments D and D', and thatafter the closing of the cover D5 the cover D2 shall be opened to allowthe fuel to pass into the furnace A.

By operating the covers in this way fuel may be introduced into thefurnace, so that the latter may be replenished without ever opening itto the external atmosphere, and there `will be little danger of the fuelclogging.

A furnace provided with such a feeder and shaking grate may bereplenished and have its iire shaken without stopping the engine ormaterially impeding it, as is the case when the furnace has been openedfor either of these purposes.

B v opening both the covers D2 D5 together a draft may be establishedthrough the furnace into the draft-pipe, for facilitating the lightingof a fire.

E designates an engine-cylinder, mounted on the base-piece B, inproximity to the furnace A, and iittcd with a piston, E', having aconical or connoidal head or top,f', whereby oil or other lubricantsintroduced into the cylinder and falling upon said piston will 'bedistributed about its circumference where itis needed,and will notaccumulate upon the top of said piston, as it otherwise might do.

G designates a pump-cylinder erected upon standards or a frame, H,extending upwardly from-the engine-cylinder E, and Gl designates apiston fitted therein and provided with a conical or conoidal head, g,serving the same purpose as that of the engine-piston E'. The rods ot'the engine-piston E and pump-piston Gl are connected rigidly together bymeans of a yoke, Y, wherein a box, R, fitting the wrist of a crankextending from the driving-shaft Q of the engine may slide laterally toand fro during the motion of the said pistons. Motion is communicatedthrough the sliding box R and crank to the driving-shaft, which may beprovided with a ily-wheel, \V, to carry it over dead-centers. By thusconnecting the two pistons together I obviate all the lost motion andnoise which is usually entailed through connections consisting ofpitman-rods and pins, and I enable the engine-piston to be cushioned bythe pump-piston on the air forced into the furnace at the time ofchanging or rcversing the stroke, and hence avoid to a great extent thejar incident to the ordinary singleacting engines.

G2 designates the inlet of said pum p-cylinder provided with a valve, h,pivoted in place anti adapted to close by gravity.

I designates a pipe leading to apassage, I', in the base-piece B,communicating with the furnace, to the furnace A, underneath its grate,and conveying air thereto. Near the pumpcylinder it is provided with avalve, i, hinged in place and capable of closing,r toward the furnace bygravity. Both the chamber containing the valve h and that containing thevalve 'i may be provided with glass plates s, to facilitate theinspection of the valves.

A designates a. passage iu the wall of the furnace A, leading from nearthe top thereof to a passage, J, in the base-piece, communicating withthe induction live-air chamber K of a valve-box, K K', mounted on thebasepiece B. L designates a valve fitted in the live-air chamber K ofthe valve-box, controlling the communication of said chamber with apassage, M, in the base B, leading to the bottom of the engine-cylinderE, and communicating through a pipe, M', with the lower part of thepump-cylinder G, so as to convey live air under both the engine-pistonE' and pump-piston G'.

L' designates a valve controlling the communication of the chamber K' ofthe valvebox with the passage N, leading to an exhaust pipe, N', whichis shown as surrounding the pipe l', whereby airisconveyed from the pumpcylinder to the furnace.

These valves L and L' may be operated in any suitable manner-as, forinstance, by tappets j j' on a countershaft, 0, worked by a rod, l, fromthe drivin g-shaft Q of the engine. 0n the opening of the valve L thelive air is admitted from the furnace into the engine and pumpcylinders, the valve L' being closed to prevent the passage of said liveair into the exhaust-pipe; and on the closingof the valve L the air isexhausted from the engine and pump cylinders into the chamber K of thevalve-box, and as the valve L' is then opened it will pass into theexhaust-pipe N'.

By establishing communication between the furnace and the engine andpump cylinders and exhaust-pipe through passages which may be cast inthe base of the engine, I obviate the necessity of independent pipes,and therefore simplify and cheapen the engine. I also simplify andcheapen the engine by admitting live air into and exhaust air from theengine and pump cylinders under control of the same valves. By passingthe exhaust-pipe along the pipe conveying air to the furnace I ena blethe said exhaust -air, which is usually wasted, to assist in heating theair conveyed to the furnace, and thereby lessen the amount of work whichthe furnace has to perform in heating the air to the requisite extent.

It will be seen that by my invention I provide for replenishing andshaking the lire of the furnace without materially impediug orinterfering with the operation 'of the engine; that I cheapen andsimplify the engine by em ploying passages in the base-plate in lieu ofindependent pipes; that I utilize the pumpcylinder as a driving cylinderand control it by the same valves which control the action of theengine-piston and lessen the work of the latter, and that I utilize theexhaust-air for the purpose of heating the air conveyed to the furnace.

What I claim as my invention, and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. A hot-air engine comprising the combination of an engine cylinder, E,piston E', pum p-eylinder G, piston G', with their pistonrods rigidlyconnected by the yoke Y, the sliding box R,crank, and drivin g-sliaft Q,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A hotair engine comprising the combination of an engine cylinder andpiston, a pump cylinder and piston separate therefrom, and a pipe orpassage for conveying heated air from the furnace to the rear or underside of the pump-piston, substantially as specified, whereby theengine.- cylinder is relieved and assisted in its Work.

3. A hotair engine comprising the combination oi' an en gine-cylinder,a'pump-cylinder at least equal in diameter to said engine-cylinder, apipe or passage for conveying heated air from the furnace to theengine-piston, and a pipe or passage for conveying heated air from thefurnace to the pump-piston, substantially as specified.

4. Inahot-air engine, the combination of an engine cylinderl and piston,a separate pump cylinder and piston, and pipes or passages for conveyingair from the furnace to both cylinders, to act on both pistons undercontrol of the same valve and from both cylinders under control ofanother valve, substantially as specified.

5. A hot air engine comprising the combination of the furnace A, passageJ, valve-box K K', and valves L L', passage M, pipe M',

cylinders E G, and passage N, arranged substantially as and for thepurpose speciiied.

6. A hotair engine comprising the combination, with a pipe or passagefor conveying air from the pump to the furnace, of an exhaust-pipeextending along the same, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

7. A hotair engine comprising the combination, with a pump-cylinder, G,a furnace, A, and enginepylinder E, of a pipe, I, a base provided withpassages I', J, M,-and N, and a valve-box, K K', mounted thereon, andcontaining valves L L', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

S. In a hot-air engine, the combination, with a furnace, of a feedercomprising the chambers D D1, covers D2 D5, and draft-,pipe D9,constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specied.

9. A hot air engine comprising the combi nation, with a furnace, of afeeder or charging-vessel provided with covers having independentshafts, one of which passes through the other and fits into a stuing boxtherein, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY W. SHERRILL.

Witnesses:

H. A. SnERRrLL, C. LAUER.

